Ribbon-shift for type-writers.



PATENTED DEC# 3, 1907.

C. J. PAULSON. RIBBON SHIFT FOR TYPE WRITERS.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY 18, 1906.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Inventor.- Zar/e5 IPw/s on.

By his Attorney.

A Witnesses No. 872,447. PATENIED DB0. s, 19o?. o. I. PAULsoN.

RIBBON'SHIFT'POR TYPE WRITERS.v

` APPLICATION FILED MAY 1a, 190e.

2 SEEETSQSHEBT 2.

invento/1 Bybs Attorney CHARLES JPAULSON; OF BROOKLYN, NEW'YORK.

RIBBON-SHIFT FOR TYPE-WRITERS.'

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 3, 1907.

Application filed May 18| 1906. Serial No. 317.540.

useful Improvements in Ribbon-Shift for .'TypeA-l/Vriters, of which thefollowing is-a specification. -This invention relates to ribbonsupporting mechanism for typewriters, and is particularly designed foruse in connection with whatare termed sight typewritersf wherein theplace on the platen that is being struck 4`by the typebars is plainlyvisible to the operator. In such machines it is customary toshifttheribbon at eac-h stroke of the typebar, over the printing place to be.engaged by the type, and thereupon the ribbon is immediately returned toits former position to enlaple't'he character printed to be plainlyvisi- The object 'of the present invention is to provide means for soshifting the ribbon vat each stroke from the universal bar or otherwise,and to further provide means whereby the position of the ribbon at suchprinting stroke may be varied, so that it may be engaged by the typebarat various positions transversely across its width ,l or it may even beshifted beyond such position when it is desired to operate without theribbon, as when -forming a matrix lor minieograph work or the like.

An additional object of the invention is to provide means for varyingthe position to which the ribbon is shifted at each printing stroke, atthe same time that the carriage or platen member is shifted toaccommodatefor two or more type on each type bai; as is usually theconstruction to provide upper and lower case letters for each type bar,and also some times anadditional character on Vthe type bar.

,ln the accompanying drawings representing one embodiment of myinvention, Figure typewriter' having my invention ap lied thereto. Fig.2 is a )erspective view s owing certain portions oli the operating mechaisiii. Fig. 3 is a vertical section through certain parts shown in Fig.2. Fig. 4 shows separately the flexible shalt `for controlling the shaftof the ribbon guide; and Figs. 5, and 7 show the cani portion ol theflexible shaft in its diil'erentoperative positions.

'lhe typewriter is designated generally by 1 is a side elevation ofcertain portions of a' on the supporting arm 14. A

guide.

T and the ribbon R is carried by suitable s ools S, only-one of whichisshown. The p atenis indicated by P, and the ribbon is supported to bebroughtad'acent the platen toA engage by the typebars when the latterare depressed in thc usual manner.

Mounted on suitable standards 11 and 12 is a supporting rod 13, on whichis secured 'a su porting arm '14. Adjacent the rod 13 is a dbxible shaft16 rotatably supported at one end only, in a bracket 17 fast on thestandard 12. .This,flexiblcsliaft extends substantially arallel with therod 13, and is rotatable iiom a shaft 18 by means of bevel gears19 and20 on the respective members 5 shaft 18 bein(lr controlled by anindicating arm 21, that can e shifted to the three positions, such asred, black and plain, as indicated'on the front plate 22. V V

A lever 23 is pivoted at its intermediate part in the lower portion ofthe supporting arm 14, and has one-extremity secured to a collar 35loose on the free end of the flexible shaft 16. The other projectingendof the lever 23 is connected with the universal bar 15 by a link 24.When the universal bar is depressed, the link will serve to rock thelever 23. A ribbon guide 25 is supported to' slide on an arni 28extending transversely from the arm 14. This ribbon guide is moved inone direction by a lever 26 pivoted spring 27 is connected between thelever 26 and the guide 25. vWhen the lever is rocked to advance theguide, this s ring will be extended, by reason of the angu ar divergenceof the lever and Therefore the reaction of this spring will return theguide and arm 26 to their for# mer positions. A second lever 29 ispivoted in an upright arm 9 and engages a portion of the lever 26 by itsintermediate portion.A The lever 29 has its inclined end portion engagedby a cam surfaceBO on the leXible shaft 16, whereby the rotation of theshaft will rock the lever 29, as indicated in Figs. 5, 6 and 7.

The Hexible shaft 16 is retained in three different positions,corresponding to the indications on the plate 22, by means of a springclip 31 fast on the shaft, that engages i'lat surfaces 32, 33 and 34,formed on a collar 35 fast to the lever 23.

Instead oi an arm 29 being pivoted on a l l stationary member, it mayarm 9 that serves to shift the platen when it" be pivoted on an isdesired to print another case letter formed on the typebar B. The varmQfis sliown'in -Fig. 1 as pivoted 'at 7 and has a bent `arm 8 A operablyconnected with a 'key lever 6.v By

"any suitable means, not shown, the-operation of the key lever rockingthe arm 9 will serve ortion, will shaft 16. The latter will elevate ythelever- 29, that will swing the .lever 26 to advance the ribbon'jguide25. But in this position, lthe ribbon guide will only b e advanced aminimum distance, and the ribbon will not be broughtto the rinting placeof the ty e' bar B. Upon shi tingvthe arm.21 to yt 'e .b'la'ck position,the cam 30 will be swung to the position indicated in Fig. 6. From thisit will be seen that in its normal ositionv the-lever 29 will beelevated from t eV ositin shown in full lines in Fig. 3 to lthat 1ndi-'.

cated in broken lines; andthe same follows for 'the lever 26, itremaining in the broken line position. Upon nowoperating the uni-yversal bar, ysincev `the-'lever 23swings .through the same length of arcasin the previous iiil i stance, the lever 26 'Willibe movedV throughlthe. same distance, but thrbugh afdiiferent path, its initial positionbeing advancedrom that` in the previous instance.A '-This will -cause.the ribbon vto be shifted farther across the'platen at each operationoftheuniversal bar, and this will serve to bring the' portion.l

37 ofthe ribbon into the strikingpoint of the vtype bar,'.causing it ltoprint black. Upon shifting the indicator varm 21 to lthe`l osition'.of"red, the cam 30 will be shifte'A to the' position indicated in-Fig.5 and the normal position of. the levers'29 and 26 willbe furtherelevated, and theribbon guide, upon the next operation of universal-barwill be shifted still' further. This will permit the red pordtion 3 6 ofthe ribbon tobe brou ht to the striking place of the type bar. he spring3i` engaging the flat faces on theend portion 'of the flexible shaft 16will serve to retain the shaft from rotating away from such axialposition, yet will permit elevation of the shaft by thelever 23 at eachoperation of the universal bar. But, when the arm 9 is rocked to shiftthe platen for upper case, or other additional character carried by thetype bar, 4the lever 29 will be moved rearward as indicated in Fig.l 2.This will cause its inclined end portion engagingthe cam 30, to be ele#vated bythe cam, and slightly rock the lever 26. The latter movementwill obviously advance the ribbon guide 25. This operation will have thesaine effect of advancing the ribbon guide in whichever of the threeposid 2. AIn a typewriter, the v supporting member, aribbonguidearranged In a typewriter,

stat4? l ftions'the guide member is adjusted to "operate by imeans` ofthe controlling arm 21.

eration of the universal bar, it -willbe-shifte'd That is, to Whichevervof the three positions' the ribbon guide would be shifted by theopatsuch operation a short distance, vandthereby the other character-on thetype. bar will the adjustment of the controlling- .arm.

f Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a typewriter, the' combination of a supporting member, afribbonguide arranged to reciprocatenon the supporting member to- ,ward andfromthe printing position, afle'xi-v ble shaft supported ,tooscillate,means for print, either red, black or.' plain according to causing thetransverse reciprocation of -'the flexible shaft'to reciprocatethe-ribbon guide., said'means being organized to vary 'the' posi.-

tions to which ythe ribbon is carried by the ribbon guide 'upon rotativeadjustment of the shaft.`

combination Iof.. a 1

to reciprocate on. the supporting member toward andfromth'e printingposition, a flexisof' ble shaft s upported to oscillate, means forycausing 'the vtransverse reciprocationl of the v exible shaft toreciprocate the ribbon guide,

said meansl being organized to vary the positionsto Vwhich the ribbon iscarried by the ribbonV guide upon rotative-engagement of the. sha-ft,and means foreffecting the transverse reciprocationof the f ieigible shaft from gthe universal bar. I

the combination of a .supporting member, a ribbon guide Aarranged Wardand from the printing position, a flexi- .fble shaft supported to'oscillate, means .for causing the transverse reciprocation -of theflexibleshaft to reciprocate the ribbon guide s'aid means beingorganized to va the'posi'- 'fito reciprocate on the supporting membertol tions to which the ribbon is carrie'd by the',-

ribbon ide upon rotative engagement of the sha t, means for effectingthe transverse reciprocation of the flexible shaft `from the universalbar, and means forA rotatively arll justin(T the flexible shaft.

- 4. n `a typewriter, the combination'of -a supporting member, a ribbonguide arranged to reciprocate on the supporting member. toi ward andfrom a printing position, a flexible shaft, a lever pi'votally supportedandarrangedto move saidshaft transversely when rocked, means for causingthe bending of the flexible shaft by said lever to reciprocate theIjbbon guide, said means including means to vary the movement of theribbon guide by the movement of the flexible shaft on its axis. l A

5. In a typewriter, the combination of a supporting member, a ribbonguide arranged to reciprocate on the supporting member toward and from aprinting position, a flexible shaft, a lever pivotallv supported and ar-I and its said engaging lever being organized ranged to move said shafttransversely when rocked,means for causing the bending of the flexibleshaft byvsaid lever to reciprocate the ribbon guide, said meansincluding means to vary the movement of the ribbon guide by 'themovement of the flexible shaft on its axis, means for swinging theHexihle shaft on its axis to different positions, and means forretaining the shaft in such adjusted positions.

'6. In a typewriter', the combination of a supporting member, a ribbonguide slidably i carried on the supporting member to move toward andfrom a printing position, a lever pivoted on the supporting member andoperated from a universal bar, a flexible shaft supported tor rotate,said shaft being connected withlsaid lever whereby the swinging of thelever will bend the flexible shaft from its axial line, a second lever,the flexible shaft having a cam surface where engaged by said lever1neans for causing the swinging of the second lever by the cam surfaceof the shaft to oscillate the ribbon guide, said cam portion ofthe'flexible shaft, and its engaging lever being organized to shift thenormal po' sition of the lever by the rotary adjustment of the flexibleshaft.

7. In a typewriter, the combination of a supporting member, a ribbonguide slidably carried on the supporting member to move toward and froma printing position, a lever pivoted on the supporting member andoperated fronra universal bar, a flexible shaft supported to rotate,said shaft being connected with said lever whereby the swinging of thelever willbend the flexible shaft from its axialline, a second lever,the flexible shaft having a cam surface engaged by said second lever,means for causing the swinging of the said second lever by the 'camsurface of the shaft to oscillate the ribbon guide, said cam ortion ofthe flexible shaft, and the second ever being organized to shift thenormal position of the second lever bythe rotary adjustment of theflexible shaft, means for swinging the flexible shaft, and means forretaining the flexible shaft in such adjusted po- .sitions 8. In atypewriter, the combination of a supporting member,- a ribbon guideslidably carried on the supporting member to move toward andifromaprinting position, a lever pivoted on the supporting member andoperated from a universal bar, a flexible shaft supported to rotate,said shaft being connectedwith said lever whereby the swinging 'of thelever will bend the flexible shaft from its axial line, ay second lever,the flexible shaft having a cam :surface engaged by said second lever,v'a third lever engaging said second lever and also engaging the ribbonguide whereby the swinging of the second lever by the cam surfaceoftheshaft will oscillate the ribbon guide, said cam `portion of theflexible shaft to shift the normal position of the lever by the rotaryadjustment of the flexible shaft.

9. In a typewriter, the combination of a supporting member, a ribbonguide slidably carried on the supporting member tomove toward and from aprinting position, a lever pivoted on the supporting member and operatedfrom a universal bar, a 'flexible shaft supported to rotate, said shaftbeing con nected with said lever wherebyr the swinging of the lever willbend the flexible shaft from its axial line, a second lever, theflexible shaft having a earn surface where engaged by said vsecondlever', a third level' engaging said second lever' and also engaging the.ribbon guide whereby the swinging of the second lever by the camsurfaee of the shaft will oscillate the ribbon guide, said cam portionof the flexible shaft and its engaging lever being organized to shiftt-he normal position of the lever by vthe rotary adjustment of theflexible shaft,

of the lever will bend the flexible shaft fromA its axial line, a secondlever, the flexible shaft having a cam surface where engaged by thesecond lever, a third lever engaging said second lever and-'alsoengaging the ribbon guide whereby the swinging of the second lever bythe cam surface of the shaft will oscillate the ribbon guide, said camportion of the flexible shaft and its engaging lever being organized toshift the normal position of the lever by the rotary adjustment of theflexible shaft, and resilient means arranged to retain said levers inengagement with said members.

11. In a typewriter, the-combination of a supporting member, a ribbonguide slidably carried on the supporting member to move toward and froma printing position, a lever pivoted on the supporting member andoperated from a universal bar, a `flexible shaft supported to rotate,said shaft being connected with said lever whereby the swinging of thelever will bend the flexible shaft from its axial line,A a second lever,the flexible shaft having a cam surface where engaged by said secondlever, a third 'lever engaging said latter lever and also engaging theribbon guide whereby the swinging of the second lever by the cam surfacewill oscillate the ribbon guide, said earn portion of the flexible shaftand its engaging lever beine'y organized to shift the normal position ofthe second lever by the rotary adjustment of the flexible A flexibleshaft'.

shaft, means for effecting such adjustment of the flexible shaft, meansforretaining-the flexible shaft in adjusted positions to which it isswung by-said means, and an indicator for indicating the .adjustedl`positions ofv the 12. In a typewriter,` the combinationxof asupporting member, a' ribbon uide membercarried on said member to be siftred thereon to .and from the printing position, means forreciprocating theribbon guide to .and from the printing position fromthemovement of a universal bar, a controlling member arranged tobeshifted to a plurality of positions, the

. lcording Vto the controlling member. and the mechanism operatmg: theribbon guide being organized whereby the .ribbon guide will be shiftedto differentpositions by the `universal bar acosition of the controllingmember, aI reciprocatable A member, and means fo'r causin theshifting ofsaid memberto vary the said path of movement o f the` guide member-tochange the printing-posiv j -tion of the ribbon for such adjustment.

13. In a typewriter, *the combination of a.A supporting member, a ribbon`guide slidably.

carried on the supporting member to move toward and from a printing(Jposition, a lever pivoted on the supporting member and operated from auniversal bar, a flexible shaft supported to rotate, said shaft 'beingicone' nectedwith said lever-whereby the swinging of the lever willbend' the flexible shaft from its Vaxiall line, a vsecond lever B5ivoted .on a

movable member, the flexible s aft having a Y cam surface Where engagedby said second .'lever, means forcausing the swinging of the secondlever by the cam surface'of the shaft l'tgoscillatetheribbon guide, saidcam por- 'ment of the ribbon tion ofthe flexible shaft, and itsengaging. lef ver beingl organized to shift. the normal posi'- tionofthe lever by the rotaryadjustment of 'theflexible shaft, and means forshifting the movable member to lshift the positionvof the v second leverand varythe paths, of moveguide, for the several'ad-VV justments.I

14. In a typewriter, the combination of a l supporting member, a'ribbonguide.v sllidably `1 carried on the supporting lmember .to Amove towardand from ra printing position,- a lever pivoted on the supporting memberand operated froma'universal bar, a 4flexible shaft supported to rotate,`said shaft beingcom nected with said lever whereby the ,swinging-ofhthe leveryvill bend the flexible shaft from' its axial'line,afsecond leverv pivoted on v a movable member, the flexibleshafthaving aca msurf'ace engaged by; said second lever,vv a third'lever engagingsaid secondlever, and also engaging'the ribbon guide Whereby theswinging of the second lever bythe cam sur-- face 'of the shaft willoseillate the ribbon', guide,l said camportion oftheexi'ble shaft andits'said engaging :lever being 'organized to. shift the normal positionof the lever by the rotary adjustment of the flexible shaft, andmeans'for shifting the movable member to shift the position of thesecond lever andv

